Three share first day lead

Bruce Fleisher right in contention once again after a first day round of 65. Allsport.

Bruce Fleisher, John Jacobs and South African Hugh Baiocchi matched the 1st-round record with 7-under-par 65s to share the lead in the Senior Players Championship today.

Tom Kite, Bob Murphy and Jesse Patino were a stroke back under almost perfect conditions at the TPC of Michigan, a 6,966-yard layout designed by Jack Nicklaus across the road from the world headquarters of sponsoring Ford Motor Co.

Leonard Thompson, Allen Doyle and Jerry McGee shot 67s.

Defending champion Hale Irwin, still trying to settle down from his victory two weeks ago in the U.S. Senior Open, was three strokes behind the leaders at 68.

``You know, I wasn't feeling that well today,'' Fleisher said. ``But, I made that no-brainer (30-foot putt) for birdie at No. 8 and that kind of got me going.''

Maybe.

But his best shot was a 4-iron that he holed from 197 yards for eagle on the par-4 14th.

As the ball rolled up the plateau to the second level of the green, where the pin was located, fans began shouting, ``Go! Go!'' When the ball disappeared into the cup, Fleisher dropped the club and thrust both arms over his head.

``I had some doubts when it was in the air,'' said Fleisher, a three-time winner this season who went into the championship trailing Irwin by just $10,474 on the money list. ``But, gosh, that was pretty.''

A few paces from the hole, Fleisher went into an exaggerated slow step to the cup. After lifting the ball up past the pin, Fleisher gave it a kiss.

Was this a practiced routine?

``Are you kidding me?'' Fleisher said, laughing. ``That surprised me, just like everybody else. Still, it was the best shot I hit all day. The best-feeling shot.''

While Irwin and Larry Nelson - the rest of Fleisher's threesome - labored over their putts, Fleisher sat on the hill overlooking the green and tied his shoes.

This is fourth and final major on the senior circuit, meaning it's Fleisher's last chance this season to fill a noticeable void on his resume. Fleisher, who had just one victory during his years on the regular PGA Tour, has won 10 times since joining the senior circuit last year - but he has never won a major.

Just two weeks ago, Fleisher was the leader after three rounds of the U.S. Senior Open, only to have Irwin breeze past him for the victory on Sunday.

``With Hale, all you've got to do is ruffle his feathers and he gets up for anything,'' Fleisher said. ``I'm sure he'll be in the hunt this weekend.''

Irwin seemed confident, that's for sure.

``I don't identify that well with Thursdays and Fridays,'' said Irwin, seeking his fourth win and second major of the season. ``But I do like weekends.''

Jacobs, seeking his second win of the season, got off to the quickest start with birdies on the first two holes.

``This course is in very good shape and the greens were holding,'' said Jacobs, 13th on the money list. ``When you have those two combinations, I don't care, they are going to shoot low. I don't care where they stick the pins, they are going to shoot low.

``And the course is in magnificent shape.''

Baiocchi, who hasn't won since 1998, shot 33-32 for his low round of the season.

``I haven't had a very good year at all,'' said Baiocchi, 35th on the money list. ``The difference today is that I putted really well.''

Five others - Chi Chi Rodriguez, Nicklaus, Ben Smith, J.C. Snead and Tom Weiskopf - have fired 65s on the opening day of this event. But only Nicklaus, in 1990, went on to win the championship.

This was the first time three players tied for the first-round lead since 1995 when McGee, Bob Charles and Bob Zimmerman all carded 68s. Of that trio, Charles had the best finish, a tie for 23rd as Snead finished at 16 under and beat Nicklaus in a playoff.

Winner will earn $315,000 of the $2.1 million purse.

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